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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN T. MEAD AND SAMUEL M. CLEMENS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFOR* NIA,ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD T( )-JOHN L. BOONE, OF SAME PLACE.

SKATING-RINKL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,823,dated April 3, 1894.

Application filed August 8, 1893- (No specimens.) S ial No. 482 688.

SAMUEL M. CLEMENS, citizens of the United States, residing in the cityand county of San Francisco and State of California, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Skating-Rinks; and we do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of saidinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itmost nearly appertains tomake, use, and practice the same.

,We have discovered that the mineral, snlphur, possesses the slipperyquality of ice and can be used as a substitute for ice in theconstruction of rinks for skating purposes, and our invention is basedupon that discovery.

Our invention therefore consists of a skating rink whose surface isformed of sulphur, either alone or combined with other substance.

lo prepare the skating surface we take commercial sulphur, and subjectit to heat until it is melted, and then we pour itupon a prepared levelsurface so that it will flow and form a smooth even level surface likeice. This surface can then be used like ice I for skating on, and theskates used may be similar to ice skates. The action of the skatesabraded by skating upon it, we pass heated 40 I irons or rollers overit, so as to melt the surface and roll it smooth, thus removing theeffects of use.

Skating rinks having a sulphur prepared surface will be beneficial tothehealth of 1n- 5 valids.

Having thus described our inventiomwhat we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent is- A floor for skating and sliding purposes 5ocomposed of a sub-base or foundation and a surface coating of sulphur,substantially as" specified.

MARTIN T. MEAD. SAMUEL M. CLEMENS. Witnesses:

JUSTIN B. MOORE, CHARLES J. ARMBRUSTER.

